Zhao Yan Detention Part Of Wider Clampdown

Zhao Yan of the New York Times continues to be detained. Normally, charges must be brought within two months, but this has now been extended by a month into January. A lawyer has made three requests to see Zhao, but has been turned down each time. The NYT is continuing to push for his release.

The tough line on Zhao is part of a wider continued clampdown on journalists, and intellectuals generally. Yu Jie, Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua were all detained earlier in December, questioned all night, but then released the next day.